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Fast Five Fix: June 28
Ben Cohen’s new underwear line will benefit gays in so many ways, world’s richest DJs, Adele got dumped by a bi guy before writing ’21,’ and more
Stand up for Ben Cohen in his underwear: rugby legend and straight LGBT ally launches charity underwear line benefiting his anti-bullying foundation; shows them off. (via Outsports - click photo for more)
Happy 43rd Stonewall uprising! In the wee small hours of the morning, June 28, 1969, our queer forefathers and foremothers and fore… drag queens decided enough was enough, and thus began the modern era of widespread grassroots LGBT community activism (not to take away from amazing activists like Henry Gerber, Harry Hay, Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings who fought back long before that night). But that doesn’t mean its the end of summer pride. Oh now. According to Queerty, its just getting started in Europe. Now here’s the news:
- JoeMyGod found a list of the 30 richest DJs in the world. Tiesto tops out the list, some very expected answers and not so expected answers. Fatboy Slim is #12? What is this 1998?
- That breakup that inspired Adele’s smash “21” album? Apparently it was a bi guy who left her for a gay friend at a party, says Queerty about some leaked info from a new unofficial biography. Boys, you know better than to break poor straight girls’ hearts, but then again, look was genius it inspired, so maybe its not such a bad thing.
- Priests in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is showing their Christian love by calling for violence and murder at Saturday’s Sofia Pride Parade, says JoeMyGod.
- Queerty tells us about a new effort by the CDC to bring rapid HIV testing to pharmacies around the country, giving you absolutely no excuse not to know your status.
- JoeMyGod has us asking: will Scotland be getting same-sex marriage sooner than we think?
VIDEO | Yeah, we wish they’d called us, maybe, so we could have been at this party too.
(h/t Towleroad)
Finally, our friends at OutrageDC.com say check out active duty military night at Nellie’s, Cobalt Best Package, Mova rooftop party, Phase 1 lesbian karaoke, and shirtless thursdays at Green Lantern, if you’re looking for something to do tonight. Check out more at their calendar.
WorldPride 2025 concluded with the WorldPride Street Festival and Closing Concert held along Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. on Sunday, June 8. Performers on the main stage included Doechii, Khalid, Courtney Act, Parker Matthews, 2AM Ricky, Suzie Toot, MkX and Brooke Eden.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Celebrating the transgender community, Baltimore Safe Haven, an organization committed to empowering LGBTQ individuals in Baltimore City, plans to host their fourth annual Baltimore Trans Pride on Saturday.
Instead of the usual parade and march, this year’s Trans Pride will be a block party on Charles Street and between 21st and 22nd Streets. The event will start at 1 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and last until 10 p.m.
Community members can go on guided tours, enjoy refreshments by local vendors, listen to presenters, and watch performances by special guests.
Sukihana, the event’s headliner, plans to take to the stage to entertain the crowd, along with a variety of local performers, according to Melissa Deveraux, Baltimore Safe Haven’s executive assistant to Executive Director Iya Dammons.
“Some (are) prominently known, some (are) just making a name for themselves,” Deveraux said. Iya is always making sure that community talent is showcased at all of our functions.”
In company with Pride on Saturday, Baltimore Safe Haven will be opening its new building on Friday from 1-4 p.m.
“That is sort of going to be the prelude to pride,” Lau said. “Thanks to Sen. Mary Washington and the Weinberg Foundation, we were able to purchase the building outright, and it’s going to be a community hub of administrative buildings and 12-bedroom apartments.”
Renee Lau, administrative assistant for special projects coordinator for Baltimore Safe Haven, said the planning process for Baltimore Trans Pride began in January, and putting it all together was a collaboration of multiple city agencies and organizations.
“Safe Haven is an LGBT community organization, but we service the entire community, and that’s the message we try to spread,” Lau said. “We’re not just here for the LGBT community. We’re here to spread goodwill and offer harm reduction and housing to the entire community.”
Lau said the organization’s biggest goal for the event is to gain exposure.
“(We want) to let and let people know who we are and what our community is about,” she said. “Right now, because of what’s happening in DC, there’s a lot of bad untruths going on, and the total thing is bringing out the truth.”
Deveraux said having a place of inclusivity, acceptance, and togetherness is important in today’s political climate and the current administration.
“This event will have people seeing the strength and resilience of the transgender community, showing that no matter what we are going through, we still show up,” Deveraux said. “We are here, we will not be erased.”
The 2025 WorldPride Parade was held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 7. Laverne Cox and Renée Rapp were the grand marshals.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key and Robert Rapanut)
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